Flash light device



May 17, 1932. M. D. B. sTRoEcKER 1,858,691

FLASH LIGHT EvIcE INVENTOR. 770nrve .U- B- .Stroec/(er BY M MW@ ATTORNEY.

May 17, 1932A. M. D. B. sTRoEcKER 1,858,691

` FLASH LIGHT DEVICE Filed Jan. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 77eme@ -,troec/fer BY/M awry-1 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 17, 1932 PATENT OFFICE i HONBOE D. B. STROECXEB, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN FLASH LIGHT DEVICE Application led January 28. 1931.

This invention relates to flashlight devices for operation in connection with photography and in particular to a device adapted to be connected directly to the shutter operat- `fing portion of a camera or to be used as an ordinary hand Hash device in which synchronization of the shutter and flash are not needed.

I am aware .that it has been common prac- 1 tice to construct so-called speed flash devices of many types, some using powder to produce light, and others using electricity to perform this function. The speed flash releases using powder as a means to produce light do not iii work out practically for the reason that in the first place there is aslight pause or interval between the time the release isoperated and the time the powder ignites to cause the flashlight, and in the second placebecause 23' there is no uniformity in such time interval which may vary for each flash powder or cartridge. @wing to the Iact that the eX- posure, particularly with high grade cameras, is frequently made in but a small irac- 25' tional part of a second, it is practically impossible to synchronize the powder ignition and the shutter actuating apparatus.

The principal object of theinvention is to provide anew and improved construction for a'ilashlight device Vwhich is of aA small compact Asize that can be readily attached to a camera and that will be practically instantaneous in its lighting eli'ect so as to be practicalrifor use as a part of the equipment of either the commercial, newspaper or amateur photographer and for use with the high speed shutters now so commonly employed in high grade photography.

Another object is to provide a newand im- 4' proved construction of speed llash device which may be automatically operated to produce the intense actinic rays necessary in synchronism with the camera shutter that the ex- 4? position of the film will take place simultaneously with the llash. y

Another, object of my invention is to providea flashlight device which may be used forthe taking of llashlight ictures inde- 0 -I pendently of theswitching an shutter actuating apparatus.-

Serial No. 511,778.

The above and other objectsof the inven- 65 tion will appear more fullyfrom the follow- 1ng more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawingsv wherein a satisfactory constructional example has been disclosed merely as illustrative of the 70 principles or the invention and not as limit' ing the scope thereof and wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view illustrating a camera 'with the speed ilash release device mounted thereon ready for use.

F ig. 2 is a plan view of the `cylinder which contains the lactuating means for operating the speed flash device.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 of the cylinder showing in 80 detail the actuating means for operating the speed lash device.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

F ig. 5 is a plan view of the battery maga- 85 zine and bulb socket unit device, with the top of said unit removed to show the batteries in position therein.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of F ig. 5. 9(

Fig. 7 shows the plan of the electric circuit used to operate my device.

As shown in the drawings the numeral 8 (see F ig. l) indicates the bed of a camera open in position for picture taking.

The battery and magazine bulb socket unit 10 is mounted detachably on the bed of the camera by means presently to be described, while the actuating means 11, including the cable release 12, is inserted into the standard shutter socket 13 usually provided on cameras for receiving the ca le release.

The actuating containerl cylinder 14 (see Fi 2) is constructed of any suitable material and comprises a central tubular section to the ends of which are detachably connected, preferably by screw threads, the heads 14a, 14b.

Each of the heads 14a, 146 is of similar construction and is provided with an interiorly screw threaded socket on its outer end 14o and with an annular inwardl projecting flange or shoulder 14d against w ich the ends of the central tubular section are adapted to abut. Screwed into the socket 140 of the head 146 is a plug 15 having a projecting nipple portion 16 rovided with the standard vscrew thread for tting into the socket provided on cameras for the receptacle of shutter actuating cables. The socket 140 of the head 14a has screwed into it a screw threaded washer 17 provided at its central portion with a screw threaded aperture 18 for the reception of the screw threaded end of the cable release 19; a washer 20 is preferably interposed in each head between the flange 14d and the plug and washer 17 respectively.

Slidably mounted within the cylinder 14 is a piston 21. Screwed into one end of said piston is a shutter operating plunger 22 which at one end extends through and is slidably mounted within a central aperture 23 of the plug 15. The piston 21 is normally urged by a coil spring 24 towards the left v hand end (Fig. 3) of the cylinder, said spring abutting at one end against the plston 21 and at the other end against the washer located in the head 14?). The piston 21 has a longitudinal groove 25 cut in its periphery into which groove extends a spring contact and electric conducting member 26. This member (as shown in Fig. 3) ,is bent to extend at one end outwardly through the walls of the cylinder 14 and head 14a and thence to extend along the outer wall of the head 14a in contacting engagement therewith, to which it is secured by brazing, soldering or in any other suitable manner, as indicated by the numeral 27 this end of the contact member being bent backwardly upon itself to form a spring clip 28 for the terminal of an electric wire 29. The vother end of the member 26 is also bent to extend through an aperture 30 formed in the side wall of the cylnder 14 and is bent back upon itself as indicated by the reference character 31 to form a stop which limits the movement of the spring contact 26 inwardly of the cylinder.

The cable release 19 is provided with the usual plunger 32 which when actuated by the push-pin 33 engages the end of the piston 21 and causes the same to move towards the right against the spring 24. As the piston 21 moves toward the right it will, as will be apparent, cause the spring contact 26 to be pushed outwardly from the full line position shown in Fig. to the dotted line position, as to contact with a co-operating spring contact member 34. The latter is also secured to the head 14b in a manner similar to that of the member 26 and is bent at its end to form a spring clip 35 for the receptacle of the terminal of the conducting wire 36.

Screwed into the walls of the head 14b and cylinder 14 is a stud 37 which pro'ects t rough the spring contact 34. Mounte between the interior face of the sprin contact 34 and the periphery of the head 14 is a coil spring 38 which serves to normally force the free end of the spring contact member 34 away from the wall of the cylinder 14. An adjusting thumb screw 39 is screwed onto the stud 37 for the purpose of adjusting the position of the spring contact member 34 relatively to the end 31 of the spring contact member 26 for a purpose which will presently be fully described.

The battery magazine and socket unit shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is preferably formed as a shallow rectangular member formed to provide a compartment 40 for the reception of a pair of batteries 41, the end of said compartment being closed by a small hinged cover 41a having a spring catch 42- for engagement with a notch 43 formed in the outer wall of the unit 10. The cover plate 41a has secured to its inner end a spring 44 which is shown as of U-shaped cross-section, but which may be of any suitable construction designed to hold the batteries in engagement with the conductors 45, 46 located at the inner end of the compartment 40. The spring 44 as shown in Fig. 5 also serves as a conductor to connect the batteries 41 in series.

The unit 10 is also formed to provide a receptacle 47 for a screw threaded socket 48 into which a photo-flash bulb 49 is adapted to be screwed. The .socket 48, in accordance with the usual construction of such devices, is of conducting material and has secured in conducting relationship with it as by means of the screw 50 the end of the. conductor 45. Located centrally of the socket 48 at the base thereof, also in accordance with the usual construction, is a spring end 51 of a conductor 52 which extends outwardly through the wall of the receptacle 47 and is bent to extend along the exterior of the said wall and thence around the corner of said receptacle to terminate in a spring contact 53. Secured in conducting relationship with the contact 52 by any suitable means such as the screw 54, is a spring clip 55 adapted to receive the other end of the conducting wire 36. The conductor 46 hereinbefore referred to, also extends outwardly through a wall of the unit 10 and terminates a-djacent to the free end of the spring contact 53. The conductor 46 has suitably secured t0 it in conducting relationship a sprin clip 56 which serves to receive the other en of the conducting Wire 29.'

Secured in any suitable manner to the base of the unit 10 is a 'plate 57 which forms one ,5 member ofca strong spring clip. The plate 57 is formed with a. palr of depending ears 58 adapted to co-operate with a similar pair 'of ears 59 of the other member 60 of the spring clip, a pivot pin 61 passing through the ears 1 58, 59 in accordance with the usual construction of devices of this' character; a spring 62 serves to normally urge the grip ends 63 of the spring clip towards each other.

The manner in which the device operates l5 is as follows:

If it is desired to actuate the flash device in synchronism with the camera shutter by the usual cable release, the cylinder 14 and attached parts is connected to the camera, the screw threaded nipple 16 being screwed into the socket with which the camera is provided for this purpose. The battery maga zine and socket unit is clamped onto the bed of the camera by the spring clip 57, in a manner that will be readily understood. The photographer will ordinarily place a small electric bulb of low candle power in the socket 48 and will focus the 'camera in the usual manner. In focusing the camera the adjusting thumb nut 39 will be adjusted until exact synchronization is secured between the opening of the shutter and the lighting of the bulb When the photographer presses the push-pin 33 of the cable release the piston 21 will be actuated -by the plunger22 inwardly of the cylinder 14 as hereinbefore described. This movement of the piston 21 will cause the spring contact 26 to 4be pushed outwardly vuntil contact is established between the hook end 31 thereof and the spring contact 34. When this occurs the circuit fromthebatteries 41 is completed, such circuit being established through conductor 46, lead Wire 29, contact 26, contact 34, lead wire 36, conductor 52, bulb 49, socket 48 and conductor 45. As the piston 21 moves inwardly the plunger 22 connected to the endV thereof is projected through the nipplev 16 to actuate lthe camera shutter. If the photographer finds that the bulb lights before the shutter opens the thumb screw 39 is screwed outwardly until exact .Y synchonization is secured. As will be understood, if the lighting of the bulb is too late the thumb screw is screwed inwardly towards the cylinder 14. The stud 37 is provided with a screw of very fine pitch so that exact synchronization can be secured for the fastest shutters. After the camera has been focused properly and proper adjustment has been made for synchronization, the bully of lowl light intensity is removed and a photofiash bulb is substituted. As these bulbs are instantaneous inAtheir operation and as the electric circuit is immediately established through the circuit as described above, the igmuon of the sash bulb will take place without any lag or time interval such as characj terizes the devices heretofore .proposed for j' electric flash lights. o .When it is desired touse the device not in connection with the cable release, but merely as a separate hand operated attachment the circuit to the bulb can bev closed by depressingv the spring contact 53 against thescrew 56a, the circuit being from conductor 46,

screw 56a, spring contact end y53 of the con' ductor 52, thence to the bulb'socket 48 and conductor 45.

The circuits in both cases above described lare in series through the batteries' through the springclip conductor 44.`

As will be seen from'the above description, a device manufactured in -accordance with4 the principles of this invention isof very small compact and sturdy construction, it

readily carried in a photographers pocket.

a. 7 occupies but very little space and 'can be .l

The parts are relatively simple in construction so that the device may be manufactured and sold at a relatively low `price. VThere are no fragile moveable parts to get out of order. The connecting of the units to the camera for synchronized operation of bulb and shutter is a simple process requiring but an4 instants time.

quiring no special knowledge of either elec- The synchronization adl .justment is remarkably easy and simple retricity or photography. The use of the batteries of the type shown renders it unnecessary to exercise any care with respect to the manner in which the conducting wires 29,

are connected to their respective spring i clips, as a reversal'of the ends of the wires 29, 36 would not in any Waychange'the functioning-'of the apparatus. The insertion' los of new batteries when necessary is simple and readily accomplished by swinging the w vcover plate 41a upon its hinge as willbe readily understood, and when newv batteries have been installed andthe cover plate snapped 'back to its closed position, lthe connection of thebatteries 41 in series is auto-,

matically accomplished. It will be understood that while I have disclosed a satisfactory constructonal example thatA many changes, variations and modifications of the specific details of thev example selected for illustration maybe resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim: Y

1. In a flashlight device for photography, an electric light bulb socket adapted to lreceive a-phpoto-lash bulb, means for securing said socket detachably to a camera, a combined switch and camerashutter release adapted -to bel secured to the socket provided l, on a camera for a cable release; said combined switch and cable release having means y j j for securing va cable release thereto, a spr-ing pressed piston actuatable said cable release,

and a spring contactI for said switch actuatableby said pistou. l

2. In aflashlight device for photography, a cylinder having` a screw threaded end adapted to be attached tothe cable release socket of a camera, lneans forsecuring to the other end of said vcylinder a cable release, a spring pressed piston slideablymounted in said Acylinder for actuation by said cable release, a combinedv switch Contact and conducting member actuated by 'said piston and an adjustable 4 spring contact co-operating withsaid-iirst named spring contact.

3. In a flashlight device for photography, an electric light bulb socket, means forsecuringsaid socket detachably to a camera, an'electric-switch having means for connecting thesame between 'a cable release and the cable release socket of -a camera, said switch including means for actuation bythe plunger of a cable release, a camera shutter actuating plungerjassociated with such switch, and

`adjusting means for synchronizing the closing of saidswitch and the actuation of such shutter. 1 i

` 4.' .In al flashlight device' for photography, a'cylinder ,having a `screw threaded end adapted to be vattached to the cable release socket/.of a camera,vmeans for securing to the other end'of said cylinder a cable release,

.a switch YVcarried by the cylinder, a spring pressed"plunge r for operating said switch slideably mountedin said cylinder for actuation by said cable, and adjusting'means for 4 synchronizing the closino' of said switch and the1 actuation i offsuchs utter., v

5. In 'a flashlightdevice for photography, a unit 'comprising a photo-flash bulb and a dry cell compartment having a battery theren,.conducting'members between said battery and bulb, linclud'img a manually operable switch, and means for connecting the ends of terminal wires in .shunt with the manually operable switch,`and a cable release-operated switch connected with said terminal wires,

said cable release-o erating switch being providedwith means or securing it to the cable release receiving socket of a camera, to enable automatic energization of the bulb concurrently with operationof the cable release.

6. In a flashlight device for photography, a unit comprising-a photo-flash bulb and a dry cell compartment having ardry cell therein, conducting members between said dry cell and bulb, including a normally open manually'operable switch forselectively connecting the cell. and bulb. means for connecting the ends of terminal wires to said conducting members in shunt with the manually operable switch, and a cable release-operated switch connectedv with said terminal wires enabling automatic energization of the bulb concurrentlywit-h operation of the cable release.

7. In a flashlight device for photography, a unit comprising aphoto-lash bulb and a dry cell compartment having a dry cell therein, conducting members between said batte and bulb, including a manually operab e switch, means for connecting the ends of terminal wires to said conductin members in shunt with the manually opera le switch, a cable release-operated swltch connected with said terminal wires, said cable releaseoperating switch being provided with means for securing it to the cable release receiving socket of the camera and including means for actuating the shutter of a camera, and adjusting means between said shutter operat ing means and switch for securing synchronization between the operation of said shutter and the closing of said switch.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature hereto.

` MONROE D. B. STROECKER. 

